What Happened to the Bulldogs Last Week

In a game where there was a combined 95 points scored by both teams, Georgia came away with a 51-44 win over Tennessee.

The freshmen duo of Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley once again came up big for the Bulldogs as Marshall rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns and Gurley rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns.

Aaron Murray also had a big day through the air, completing 19 of his 25 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Bulldogs’ defense did give up nearly 500 yards to the Vols, but they forced three turnovers in the Vols' last four possessions, including two interceptions by Sanders Commings.

Alec Ogletree and Bacarri Rambo made their 2012 debut and did not disappoint. Ogletree led all defenders with 14 tackles and three passes defended while Rambo was right behind Ogletree with nine stops.

What Happended to the Gamecocks Last Week

The Gamecocks had a tough time taking down Kentucky as they went down by 10 points at the half. But they were able to score 31 unanswered points in the second half to come away with the 38-17 win.

Marcus Lattimore is getting stronger each game, rushing for 120 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns against Kentucky. That made quarterback Connor Shaw more effective, and he completed 14 of his 18 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns as well as rushed for 76 yards on 19 carries.

The Gamecocks defense was the difference in the third quarter as they limited the Wildcats to 33 total yards. They were just as effective in the fourth quarter when DeVonte Holloman and Gerald Dixion Jr. picked off Kentucky quarterback Jalen Whitlow.

Dating back to last year, the Gamecocks have won nine consecutive games, the longest streak for them since 1984.

What It Means for Both Teams

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This game means almost everything for both teams when it comes to where they want to be at the end of the season.

South Carolina has never won an SEC title and a win against Georgia would put them that much closer to their goal. The Gamecocks still have to play LSU and Florida afterwards but a win against the Bulldogs would give them confidence to take on any team.

The Bulldogs lost to South Carolina the last two years and would love to take down the Gamecocks to remain undefeated and be on their way back to the Georgia Dome. Like South Carolina, the Bulldogs still have to get by Florida, but a win against the Gamecocks would give them the confidence to run the table.

Key Player for the Gamecocks

Connor Shaw is somewhat in the same spot as Murray because this is the biggest game he has played in his young career.

Shaw has played well whenever he’s on the field, but he tends to not finish games because he does get injured quite a bit.

But he’s an effective runner and an efficient passer, so a good as Tyler Bray was against Georgia, the Bulldogs will have their hand full with Shaw. He brings so much to the table and would love to have a huge game against Jarvis Jones and company.

The Bulldogs Will Win If...

Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

The Bulldogs will win if the offense can score over 30 points.

That might seem simple because the offense averages 48 points per game. But as mentioned earlier, the Gamecocks’ defense is as good as it gets and the offensive line will have to be sure they know where Jadaveon Clowney is at all times.

The defense will also have to play well which means Jarvis Jones will have to make a couple of impact plays. He has come up big so far this season and is chomping at the bit to get back on the field since he did not have a great game against Tennessee.

The Gamecocks Will Win If...

Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

The Gamecocks will win if the defense limits the Bulldogs offense to 20 point or less.

It’s not that the Gamecocks can’t score—they average 33 points per game. But it they keep the game a low-scoring affair that will play into South Carolina’s favor because they are a defensive-minded football team.

They will have to hit Murray early and often to make his life miserable the entire game. They also need to make sure they take good tackling angles on Marshall and Gurley so they won’t run wild on the Gamecocks. It may seem simple, but all the teams that have played the Bulldogs this season have failed to stop the Bulldogs’ offense.

Prediction

Because the game is played at South Carolina, the Gamecocks do have a slight advantage. The defense is one of the best in the conference and Shaw is starting to find his groove.

However, the Bulldogs have one of the best offenses in the country and with the combination of Murray, Gurley, Marshall, the wide receivers and Jarvis Jones leading the defense, it will be a tough task for the Gamecocks to take down the Bulldogs.

This one will be tight all game long and it will come down to who will turn the ball over the most. The Bulldogs offense has been known to turn the ball over in games like these, but I think Murray has something to prove and will play turnover-free football, which will lead to a win for the Dawgs.